Did you know that cats can learn cool tricks just like dogs? Find out how to teach your cat some cool cat tricks that you can show off to your friends. Cats have an independent streak that makes them challenging to train. You’ll need patience and persistence to convince your feline of the benefits and fun involved in learning cool cat tricks. Your kitty might not immediately warm up to the idea of performing on command, but eventually, the cat’s inquisitive nature will take hold and the puss will start to learn.
Studies have shown that the typical housecat sleeps from 12 to 18 hours per day and about 40% of cats may nap for even longer. With your kitty’s laidback attitude, you might wonder why you should even bother teaching your cat tricks.
Besides the fact that they are fun, teaching your cat tricks can have some health benefits. Training sessions encourage activity, responsiveness, and engagement which can all benefit the cat’s mental and emotional health.
A cat can quickly become bored living a sedentary lifestyle. Your cat might start to gain weight and experience health problems if this lifestyle continues, especially in their senior years. Training fun cat tricks is a great way to encourage more active behaviours and help you bond with your kitty.
In the wild, a feline would spend the majority of its active time hunting, mating, and raising a family. Survival takes exercise, alertness and cunning. Cats in captivity can quickly adapt to a sedentary lifestyle, negatively impacting the animal’s well-being and health.
Basic cat training, like how to train your cat to use a litter box and even some more advanced practices like training your cat to walk on leash are going to be very beneficial to your cat's health and routine, but teaching them fun tricks can also have many benefits.
Here are a few benefits of teaching your cat tricks:
Additionally, teaching your cat some cool tricks is just fun. Your cat gets the benefit of learning new behaviours and you get to show off your cat's cool new skills to all your guests.
Teaching cat tricks is fun for both you and your kitty. While you might think that there is no way your cat will learn to do tricks, like high fives or sitting, it's really not as hard as it seems. Your cat might surprise you with how quickly he picks up his new tricks.
Below are a few tips on teaching cat tricks to ensure success.
Teaching cool cat tricks is fun not only for your amusement but also for your cat’s mental stimulation. The time you spend with your furry friend will solidify the bond you share with each other and take your relationship to the next level of pet friendship.
To ensure your cat's training goes smoothly, make sure you have the right tools on hand. Small but flavourful cat treats will help to keep your cat's attention and encourage cooperation. Here are a few of our favourite extra-tasty cat treats:
Choose the cat treats that your cat goes totally nuts for. The tastier it is, the more likely they are to work to get them. Just remember to stick to small treats. If you have to break up their favourite treats into small bite-sized pieces so that you can give several treats without feeding too many calories.
Another tool for training your cat is a small treat pouch. Rewarding effectively is all about timing. Having a treat bag ensures you have treats within reach so you can immediately reward your cat for a successful trick.
Training your cat is not that much different from training a dog. You need to choose a vocal command or a word that you use to ask for the trick. One word is ideal, but two words can be necessary for some commands, like high-five.
Cats don't grasp vocabulary as easily as dogs. They will eventually learn the vocal cues, but there are other methods you can use in conjunction with audible commands that will help them grasp new skills quickly.
Here are a few tips for training cat tricks:
A visual cue, like a hand motion, can complement cat training techniques. Try to use hand signals that suggest the desired movement. You can also use your hand to guide your cat, without touching them. You'll see a few easy examples later in this blog.
Timing is important for cats too. As independent creatures, your cat is less likely to adhere to your schedule. Wait until your cat is up and active to try to train some tricks. This will ensure she's alert and ready to participate. Before or after meal times, during playtime, and after going for a stimulating walk with your cat are all great opportunities to start a training session.
The right reward will keep your cat interested and can speed up the training process. Cats that aren't food-motivated may struggle with training. If your cat isn't interested in food or treats, then you will need to choose a different reward system, like a gentle neck scratch or a favourite toy.
When first starting your cat training, it's a good idea to start with simple tricks and commands. Practice easier tricks like "sit" and "high five" and make sure your cat fully understands and consistently demonstrates these skills before moving on to more challenging tricks. Trying to teach too much at once can confuse and frustrate your cat.
Have you ever looked at a dog showing off all his cool tricks and thought it would be really fun if you could teach your cat those tricks? Fortunately, you can! Start with the basics to help get your cat used to the training process and then you can work your way up to more impressive tricks.
Take a look at the 10 most popular cat tricks to teach your cat. The first five are the easy ones and a great place to start your cat training. Once you've mastered those, you can try out some of the more advanced cat tricks.
This trick is actually the same for dogs as it is for cats. It will take some practice, but this is one of the easiest tricks to teach a cat.
With practice, your cat may associate the word sit with the action. Then you can ask for the sit command without using the treat guide. Ask your kitty to sit before meals, before going outside, and even during playtime.
Have you ever seen a kitty give a high-five? The adorable cat trick encourages your cat to touch its paw to your hand in a show of comradery.
Some cats hate their paws being touched, so they may be hesitant to actually make contact. It's up to you if you want to accept a hover paw for a high five, but this training can be an effective tool for helping your cat get comfortable with his paws being touched.
Cats master the ‘come’ command quickly when you provide positive reinforcement combined with a tasty treat. This is a great trick for bonding with your cat and having them get accustomed to your voice.
This one takes lots of patience. At first, your cat may choose not to respond at all. This could be because they aren't aware of the treat or reward. Start your practice with only a short distance between you so that your cat can see or smell the reward.
Another basic command to teach cats is to spin. Most cats learn this trick easily but need lots of practice to associate the spin command with the action.
Some cats will always need the treat to follow, while others will learn to follow just a hand motion with a verbal command.
Most cats are very curious. If you hold out your finger your cat is likely to try to sniff it to investigate. This trick is easiest for cats that are highly food-motivated, but any cat can learn this one.
The touch command and one finger are common for this cat trick but you can get creative for a funnier, shower trick. For example, You can use a closed fist and the command pound it.
Yes, you can train your cat to speak! Some cat breeds are known to be more vocal than others, such as the Siamese. However, any cat can master the ‘speak’ command. It's believed that cats learn to vocalize differently to their humans than they do with other cats, so it's not a stretch for them to learn to respond to a specific vocal cue.
This fun party trick is not for everyone. Teaching your cat to jump into your arms or onto your shoulder shows off some serious skill, but it's not without its risk. Your cat will cling to you to secure her landing, so be prepared for a few claw marks when you first start practicing.
A pro tip for teaching your cat to jump up on you is to make sure her nails are trimmed and you are wearing clothes that cover your skin. Young kittens and older cats will have more difficulty with this strict due to size or mobility, so make sure you are never asking your cat to make a jump that could put them at risk of injury.
One of the easiest cat tricks to teach is to train your cat to roll over. Many cats already demonstrate this skill when trying to get attention or when stretching after a nap, so it's more about rewarding the behaviour and adding the command.
If you have been to a circus or the famous Seigfried & Roy tiger show in Las Vegas then you have seen a lion or tiger jump through a hoop. You might be surprised to learn that a common house kitty can also learn this fun cat trick with minimal ease. You’ll need to invest in a small hula hoop to carry out this cat trick.
Once your cat masters this trick, you can use other shapes and obstacles using the same technique. With enough practice, you can teach your cat to go through a whole homemade obstacle course.
Although all cat tricks are meant to be fun and engaging, not every cat will master every trick. Start with the simpler ones and slowly work your way up to more advanced tricks like this one. If your cat just can't seem to get the hang of it, don't be discouraged. Try some different tricks or switch up your rewards.
Your cat isn’t that far removed from its wild ancestors. Many kitties start to grow restless when the sun sets and want to head outdoors for an adventure. They feel the urge to hunt and wander. This is especially true if your cat is not neutered or spayed.
Cats that are used to free-roaming outdoors will have a different routine and different skills than a cat that has spent it's whole life as an indoor cat. While the great outdoors offers plenty of exercise and stimulation that is good for cats, it also present many dangers. This is why indoor cats live longer on average.
If your cat is obsessed with nature, you may think it's impossible or cruel to restrict her to only living indoors, but sometimes it's in their best interest to make this change. The good news is, you can train your cat to be indoors only, but it will take time and practice.
You’ll need to transition your cat from outdoors to indoors slowly. Cats often take a long time to become accustomed to an indoor-only lifestyle. They will claw at windows, meow and dig at doors trying to convince you to let them outdoors.
Here are a few ways to train your cat to be an indoor-only cat:
If it feels like your cat is untrainable, then you might be moving too fast. Learning fun tricks might not come easy to all cats. Young kittens may learn faster than adult cats that already have an established routine and pattern of behaviour.
Practice is important, and you may have to repeat steps over and over to make sure your cat understands the vocal and visual cues. Take as much time as is needed to help them learn, and do your best to avoid getting frustrated or upset.
If you feel the tension rising, take a break and try again later. Every cat is different and will learn differently. You may find that your cat will pick up some tricks right away while others take days or even weeks of practice before they understand.
Remember not to try to teach too much at once. Focus on one trick at a time. With time and patience, you should be able to teach your cat some fun parlour tricks that not only make you look like a super cool cat owner but also provide a stimulating and satisfying activity for your smarty-pants cat.
Yes, cats are capable of learning tricks through positive reinforcement training. While their learning style differs from dogs, they can be trained to perform a variety of tricks and behaviours.
Begin with simple tricks that align with your cat's natural behaviours, such as "sit" or "paw." Use treats and praise as rewards to motivate your cat and reinforce their successful attempts.
Cats often excel at tricks that mimic their instinctual behaviours, like "fetch," "high five," and "jump." However, with patience and creativity, you can teach them a wide range of tricks.
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your cat with treats, praise, or play whenever they successfully perform a trick. This encourages them to repeat the behaviour to earn the reward.
Cats have their own pace and preferences, so be patient and adjust your training approach. Break down tricks into smaller steps, and ensure you're using high-value treats and a calm training environment.
Short and frequent training sessions work best for cats. Aim for a few minutes a day, using positive reinforcement and keeping the sessions enjoyable to maintain your cat's interest.